Minutes of a meeting of ARLESEY TOWN COUNCIL held on Tuesday 1 September 2015, in the Village Hall, High Street, Arlesey. PRESENT: Cllrs: M Holloway (Chairman) J Randall J Auburn S Stanbury P Chillery J Want Mrs H Frost A Ward Mrs K Lindskog Mrs L Rowe (Acting Town Clerk), Unitary Cllr D Shelvey, Rev Geoffrey Boult and seven members of the public. 225 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Cllr G Bains, Cllr C Ferris, Cllr C Gravett and Cllr C Livermore and Unitary Cllrs I Dalgarno and R Wenham. 226 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST a) Disclosable Pecuniary Interests None b) Personal Interest Agenda item 17 Arlesey Remembers You Cllrs Auburn, Chillery and Holloway declared personal interests as they or relatives are involved in the Arlesey Remembers You Project. 227 CHAIRMAN S ANNOUNCEMENTS The Chairman made the following announcements: (a) CBC Press Release Long to reign over us Prior to the meeting Members had received a copy of the CBC Press Release Long to reign over us. (b) CBC Press Release Thousands of students make the grade Prior to the meeting Members had received a copy of the CBC Press Release Thousands of students make the grade. (c) CBC Press Release Got your results but not sure what to do next Prior to the meeting Members had received a copy of the CBC Press Release Got your results but not sure what to do next. (d) CBC Press Release GCSE students make the grade Prior to the meeting Members had received a copy of the CBC Press Release GCSE students make the grade. 228 PRESENTATION BY REV G BOULT Rev Geoffrey Boult introduced himself and said that he had been the vicar at St Peter s Church for a year. He said that there was a Church of England church in nearly every community throughout England as well as Chaplains in hospital and in the army. He said that Church of England schools were the most popular in England. He said that the majority of clergy are full time but some like him are part time. Churches should be available to everyone and be open every day. Rev Boult said that St Peter s Church was built in the 12 th century and there were areas of the building that needed maintenance work. He said that a bequest had been given to the church but the income could only be used on the church and not Town Council meeting 1 September 2015 86
the churchyard. He went through the various areas of the church that needed maintenance work and what would be involved. He said that pupils of Etonbury Academy had already brought the 14 th century font back to life by recreating the panels on it in paintings displayed around it. He said that a new project Refreshment of St Peter s had been launched details of which he had given to Members prior to the meeting. This would create more income, which would be used to refresh the building. The Chairman invited Members to ask Rev Boult questions. One member asked for more details of the bequest. Rev Boult said a house and some cash had been left to the church in trust. The income could be used to maintain the church building. He said that the house had a piece of land and to maximise the income this could be sold either to the highest bidder or the church could develop the land themselves. The Chairman thanked Rev Boult for the presentation. 229 AYP VISION (ARLESEY YOUTH COUNCIL REPORT) There was no report as Nicola King had given her apologies for the meeting. 230 MEMBERS QUESTIONS Cllr Want asked the Chairman whether he had managed to obtain the cable for the microphones. He said no not yet but he hoped to soon. 231 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION There was no public participation. 232 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS (a) (b) Prior to the meeting members received a copy of the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 18 August 2015 part 1 233 MATTERS ARISING that the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 18 August 2015 part 1 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a true record of proceedings. The Chairman said that the lights in West Drive were now working. He said that the Internal Auditor had been engaged and would carry out a Risk Assessment in October and the first of the internal audits at the beginning of November. The Acting Town Clerk reported that CBC was going to repair the footpath from the MUGA to Gothic Mede Academy. Cllr Ward asked whether the quotations for the Health & Safety issues had been received. The Acting Town Clerk said that they hadn t but they should be received for the meeting to be held on 15 September 2015. 234 BEDFORDSHIRE POLICE PCSO Passby had given his apologies for the meeting; a copy of the police report for August had been placed in councillors individual trays. 235 REPORTS FROM CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES Unitary Cllr Shelvey reported: Town Council meeting 1 September 2015 87
The Twin Acres Appeal had been upheld with conditions which will be enforced An amendment to one of the conditions for the planning application to 197 Hitchin Road had been received; the unitary councillors would call it in There is an Arlesey Cross meeting on 8 September 2015; the initial set of plans will go to the Development and Management Committee The consultation regarding Arlesey Nursery is due to start shortly and there is a meeting on 15 September Nothing has happened regarding the parking study there is no date yet for the exhibition CBC are aware of the illegal encampment on the A507 Planning is the subject for discussion at the Town and Parish Conference to be held on 23 September 2015 All properties in Central Bedfordshire will receive a survey that has to be completed as to who is living in the house Spraying of weeds takes place 3 times between March and October Bedford Borough Council are going to introduce a 2 tier system for their schools; CBC has no policy on 2 tier schools so the 3 tier system will remain There will be a new Highway contractor from 1 April 2016 236 SCHOOL/NURSERY GOVERNOR REPORT There were no School or Nursery Governor reports. 237 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN Cllr Want reported that there had been a recent meeting of the Steering Group which had been quite positive. The environmental impact of the proposed relief road had been considered by group members, this had been time consuming. The next meeting is on 10 September and everybody is welcome. An outline of the Neighbourhood Plan with dates should be available very shortly. He and the Chairman would be going to CBC on 8 September 2015 to talk with officers regarding the Neighbourhood Plan. 238 CBC FIVE YEAR PLAN FRAMEWORK Prior to the meeting Members had received a copy of the CBC Five Year Plan Framework; the Chairman asked whether they wanted to comment. Cllr Ward said that he would collate any comments or ideas that Members had and present them to the next meeting to be held on 15 September 2015. He asked Members to let him have these by Monday 7 September 2015. 239 COMMITTEE STRUCTURE Prior to the meeting Members had received a copy of an amendment made by Cllr Want to the proposed committee structure. He said that items would have to be allocated either to committees or if they were important they would go to full council. He said that the Public Lands and Highways Committees were very similar and proposed that they were merged. The amendment proposed that committees would be held on the first Tuesday of the month and the full council would meet on the third. Members agreed that this proposed committee structure was far more suited to the Council. Cllr Ward raised three issues there was no provision for a Public Relations Committee; it should be considered whether the membership of the committees should be skills based; and the membership should be a minimum and not restricted to a set number. Members proposed that the amendment to the committee structure be approved. Town Council meeting 1 September 2015 88
that the amendment to the Committee Structure be approved 240 ALLOTMENT FIELD Cllr Gravett had given his apologies for the meeting but Members had received his proposal for the allotment field prior to the meeting. The Chairman said that he was going to meet with the grounds staff to go over the proposed ideas to see if they were viable. Each proposed activity would have to be priced and Members would have to consider whether to budget for them next year. The Chairman said that the Public Lands and Highways Committee would need to price the project and consider whether to include it in next year s budget. 241 ARLESEY REMEMBERS YOU The Chairman said that a request had been received from Arlesey Remembers You to assess the feasibility of creating a Memorial Copse on part of the land to the rear of the cemetery. that permission be granted to Arlesey Remembers You to assess the feasibility of creating a Memorial Copse on part of the land to the rear of the cemetery 242 PLAYAREA Prior to the meeting Members had received copies of quotations for two signs at the play area. It was proposed that 2 signs for 39.76 each plus 7.50 delivery plus VAT be purchased. to approve the quotation for 2 signs for the play area of 39.76 each plus 7.50 delivery plus VAT 243 LONDON ROW SEAT Prior to the meeting Members had received copies of quotations for a replacement seat at London Row. The Chairman said that firstly Members needed to decide whether to replace the seat at London Row. It was proposed that the seat be replaced as Members had been approached by several residents requesting that a new seat be installed. It was proposed to wait until the replacement seat for Jubilee Crescent had been received before considering whether the one at London Row should be the same. 1. that a replacement seat at London Row be purchased 2. to wait until the replacement seat for Jubilee Crescent had been received before considering whether the one at London Row should be the same 244 LOCAL COUNCIL CLERK CORE SKILLS The Acting Town Council said that she would like to attend the training course commencing on 29 September 2015 at a cost of 250. There was only 45 remaining in the budget for 2015/16. It was proposed that approval be granted to the Acting Town Clerk to attend the Local Council Clerk Core Skills course and the balance of 205 be taken from reserves. Town Council meeting 1 September 2015 89
1. to approve the attendance of the Acting Town Clerk on the Local Council Clerk Core Skills course for a cost of 250 2. the balance of 205 to be taken from reserves 245 CBC TRAFFIC MEETING Cllr Livermore had given his apologies for the meeting but Members had received a copy of his report regarding the CBC Traffic Meeting he had attended. Members agreed to note the report 246 QUESTIONS TO THE CHAIRMAN Cllr Want asked for an update on the Town Clerk s position. The Chairman said that the deadline had been extended to 25 September 2015 and to date one application had been received. 247 REPRESENTATIVES REPORTS There were no representative reports. 248 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ON ITEMS ARISING FROM THIS EVENING S MEETING A resident said that he hoped that the committee structure that had been approved would evolve and the Council would in time consider whether to give delegated powers to the committees. A resident said that he hoped that the parking restrictions outside Etonbury Academy would be enforced. Cllr Lindskog said that the restrictions had not changed but the Traffic Notice had now made them enforceable. 249 EXEMPT ITEMS (a) Minutes of Previous Meeting Prior to the meeting Members received a copy of the minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 18 August 2015 (part 2). that the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 18 August 2015 (part 2) be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a true record of proceedings (b) (c) (d) Matters Arising There were no matters arising. Update on the Holiday Pay Issues An update was given and the matter is ongoing. Update on former Town Clerk An update was given and the matter is ongoing. To resolve to exclude the public and press from the meeting under section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 by reason of the confidential nature of the business. Town Council meeting 1 September 2015 90
to exclude the members of the public and press from the meeting to consider business of a confidential nature CHAIRMAN Date Town Council meeting 1 September 2015 91